The uniformed Police forces of the Third Reich 1933-1945

German did not have a national police force until 1920 when it was formed by the Weimar regime. The national Socialists were instrumental in its development. The dutes performed by the Ordnungspolizei were the same as those performed in any other country in peace time. However it did supervise the professional and voluntary fire services and provived advice to private factory units. During the war the uniformed police undertook an important new task when it was used to assist the security police in carrying out duties in occupied territories. To this end a total of 38 police regiments were formed plus local regiments in occupied countries. Police members were used to raise and man 2 Waffen SS Divisions to fight alongside the army. The police was at the core of the civil defence in the Reich providing the organisation for defence against air raids in towns and industrial complexes Outstanding service was taken in fighting fires in the protection od members of the population and in supervising technical emerency assistance in the rescue of civiliand and the clearing of bombdamage, prisoners of war and slave labour was used in this.This book will attempt to show its complete organisation and it will provide biographical data on its seniors officers.